Daniel Stackhouse returns to scale aboard Ashlor (Image: Racing Photos)
An honest disposition and a lack of fitness almost cost Daniel Stackhouse a dream return to Melbourne racing at The Valley on Saturday.
Stackhouse explained after partnering Ashlor to a first-up win in the 955-metre dash that he has only been back in Australia for two weeks after a six-month riding stint in Mauritius and was worried mid-week that he would not be fit enough to ride the horse and offered to withdraw from the mount.
"This is my first ride back," Stackhouse said. "Dan (trainer Dan McCarthy) was pretty keen to get me on him. I said to him that I was not fit enough to ride him but he was pretty confident I'd be right."
McCarthy was correct and the fitness of both Ashlor and Stackhouse held out until the last stride. On the line, the $10 chance had a long neck margin over the early leader Desert Lashes ($4.60), with three-quarters of a length to the fast-finishing Invincible Al ($4.60) in third place.
McCarthy had been concerned that Ashlor too lacked the necessary toughness as he kept him fresh going into the Bendigo Bank Handicap.
"He was out on his feet late and the 955 (metre) trip helped as I don't think he needed a step further," a relieved McCarthy said.
"But I knew he was going well. He trialled at Tatura the other day and I've never seen him trial better."
WATCH: Ashlor's win
The Wangaratta trainer has big plans for the five-year-old winner of nine races and some $450,000 in stakes. He said he is likely to resist the temptation of the Flemington carnival and instead aim him at Group 1 glory in the $1 million Winterbottom Stakes over 1200 metres in Perth on December 1.
"It might be pie in the sky stuff but he's such an underrated horse," he said. "I think he deserves a chance at a race like that."
The win of Ashlor was extra special for McCarthy as he spent his childhood coming to Cox Plates when his father, Brendan Snr, who died just last year at the age of 87, was on the Moonee Valley Racing Club committee.
As for Stackhouse, the 28-year-old has settled back into home at Mornington after his spell in Mauritius riding at just one meeting a week.
"I had 18 winners and two Group 1s and it was a great experience," he said. "But I was by myself the whole time and my wife was here so it made it pretty hard."
As for Ashlor, Stackhouse said he was pleased McCarthy backed him to get the job done.
"He's a great horse. He goes well fresh and had blinkers on today and was really tough to the line," Stackhouse said.